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HUD Report Shows Doubling of HAMP Modifications. On February 17, HUD issued a report demonstrating that since December 2009, HAMP loan modifications have nearly doubled. Altogether 1.3 million trial modifications are under way, and 940,000 homeowners have reduced their mortgage payments by a median of more than $500 per month and $2.2 billion total. The program goal is to keep 3-4 million homeowners in their homes. Chairman Dodd to Introduce Bill to Create Council of Regulators. During the week of February 22, U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chair Christopher Dodd (D-CT) will introduce legislation to create a council of economic regulators and advisors, under the leadership of the Secretary of the Treasury. Introduction of the bill comes after Senate Republicans including Banking Committee Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-AL) have opposed Dodd’s bill to create a Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Senate Finance Introduces Bill for Jobs, LIHTC Exchange Extension. On February 11, Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) also introduced a jobs bill but it does not include the LIHTC exchange extension. Senator Jeff Bingaman soon will introduce legislation to extend the LIHTC exchange, allow 5-year carryback, and increase the number of LIHTC investors. Read Baucus-Grassley bill summary; Reid bill summary. U.S. Federal Reserve to Increase Discount Rate, which is the rate for banks to borrow emergency funds, from 0.50% to 0.75%, the Reserve announced on February 18. The Reserve anticipates this increase will not affect consumers but will encourage financial institutions to return to borrowing privately. HUD, EPA Announce New Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, Comment Period on Future Planning Grants. In February, HUD and EPA announced the creation of HUD-housed OSHC; announced EPA clean water and brownfields programs; and invited industry partners to comment on new regulations to provide $100 million in planning grants under the Sustainable Communities Program. HUD, DOT, and EPA, through its unprecedented Partnership for Sustainable Communities organization, will collaborate with local governments and nonprofits to sustain communities. Click to comment on: Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program; New OSHC Office; New EPA Programs. EPA Rolls Out New Website for Citizen Comments. On February 18, EPA announced a new web site to provide improved opportunity for citizens to become aware of, and comment on, EPA proposed policies. The web site complements www.regulations.gov by describing ways policies may affect small business, environmental health, children’s health, and local and tribal governments. (More information) EPA and DOE Announce Initiative to Advance Building Energy Efficiency. On February 2, the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency announced the creation of the State Energy Efficiency (SEE) Action Network, which will provide targeted technical assistance to states in order to reach National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/napee/index.html goals. Through the Network, DOE, EPA and other member organizations will assist states with their energy efficiency initiatives, including residential efficiency programs, financing solutions, and improving availability of energy usage information. The goal is to help states achieve maximum cost effective energy efficiency improvements in homes, offices, buildings and industry by 2020. For more information, view the DOE press release and visit the Action Network website. |
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NACEDA Welcomes Marta Howell as Interim Executive Director. Howell is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of experience in community development and nonprofit management. She is best known in the community development field for her work with Neighborhoods Inc. of Battle Creek, Michigan, where she played a variety of roles from marketing to development, and ultimately was named the CEO. Howell has used her management skills and entrepreneurial approach to assist numerous nonprofit organizations faced with executive transition. She was appointed by the Board of Directors to direct NACEDA on an interim basis while it conducts a thoughtful and comprehensive search for a permanent executive director. “I’ll make sure that all administrative and fundraising activities are running smoothly and that all policies and procedures are concisely organized so the new Executive Director can hit the ground running,” she stated. Next HOME/CDBG Task Force Meeting: February 23, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. EST. NACEDA members and CHDO/CDC practitioners are invited to join the next HOME/CDBG Task Force conference call. The purpose of the Task Force is to examine the challenges and benefits of the CDBG and HOME Programs, including program priorities, collaboration with PJs, HOME productivity, and understanding community-based needs. To participate, contact Rachel Audi, Director of Government Relations, at (202) 659-7701 or raudi@naceda.org. “Building Markets for Managing Neighborhood Change” Competition -- Submit or Comment by February 28. NACEDA is currently accepting submissions and comments for the third Managing Neighborhood Change collaborative competition. The goal of the “Building Markets” competition is to identify successful strategies and projects that CDCs and social purpose organizations can use to strengthen neighborhood housing markets. This might include marketing, achieving neighborhood stability and improving quality-of-life initiatives. We encourage you, your members and all community development practitioners to submit to this competition by Sunday, February 28. Judging will begin on March 1 and the winner will be announced in a conference call on March 3. Visit the Managing Neighborhood Change interactive website. Registration Now Open for NACEDA Summit -- May 24-26 in Washington, DC, Including a Special Practitioner Day Symposium and Lobby Day. This year’s Summit will focus on practitioner-led solutions and community economic development innovations in a changing landscape. A Practitioners Day will feature sessions on rebuilding local economies, alternative financing tools, and new economic priorities for foundations. Register by April 9 for reduced rates: $155 full conference; $95 practitioner day only. Regular rates apply after April 9: $200 full conference; $110 practitioner day only. Special hotel rates available in limited numbers. Register and pay online at the NACEDA website. Opportunity for Four State Associations to Participate in NACEDA’s Organizational Capacity Assessment. Do you want to better guide your organization’s growth and development? Are you looking to expand your ability to strategically address key challenges and concerns for your association and its members? Are you trying to strengthen the community development sector in your state? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should participate in NACEDA’s Organizational Capacity Assessment. Developed with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this self-assessment tool will help identify your association’s strengths and weaknesses and work to make your organization as effective as it can be. Please click here for further information http://www.naceda.org/programs.php#oca or contact NACEDA’s Director of Special Projects Sarah McKinley at smckinley@naceda.org. Shelterforce Addresses Challenges of Developing National Voice for Housing and Economic Development; Discusses NACEDA’s Role. The National Housing Institute’s latest publication features a comprehensive history of the housing and economic development sector, including NACEDA’s role, and discusses the challenges of developing a national voice for the field. The article is titled “Coming Together.” |
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Enterprise Community Partners and Building Green, LLC Launch New Website. The new Enterprise Green Communities NSP Webpage will feature informational resources and case studies focusing on the incorporation of green rehab standards in public programming throughout the U.S. It will also include a blog discussing techniques, challenges and best practices, and encouraging the participation of NSP partners and participants throughout the country. National Press Lauds Worker-Owned “Green” Business Initiative. Recent articles in Business Week and The Nation describe Cleveland’s Evergreen Cooperatives initiative, which enables employees to build long-term wealth, as promoting “green” industry, and creating jobs in one of America’s most distressed cities. To read the full articles go to “The Cleveland Model” in The Nation and “Buying Local on a Large Scale” in Business Week. The University of Maryland’s Democracy Collaborative Initiative, a NACEDA member, was a partner in the development and implementation of this economic development strategy. Its Community-Wealth.org website provides resources and strategies for democratic, community-based economic development as well as more information about the Evergreen Cooperatives. La Raza Reports Foreclosure’s Effects on Latino Families. Research by the National Council of La Raza and the University of North Carolina’s Center for Community Capital found that foreclosures strained family relationships and impacted children’s school performance. The Foreclosure Generation: The Long-Term Impact of the Housing Crisis on Latino Children and Families is available on the NCLR Website. Alliance for Biking & Walking Releases Benchmarking Report. Bicycling and Walking in the United States: The 2010 Benchmarking Report contains 200 pages on the state of bicycling and walking in America and in 50 states. |
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2010 CDFI Institute -- March 2-3 in Washington, DC. Hosted by the CDFI Coalition, this conference will include panel discussions with community development finance experts. (Registration and information) NCRC 2010 National Conference -- March 10-13 in Washington, DC. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) will address this special 20th Anniversary Celebration of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. (Conference website) Transportation Equity Network Conference -- March 15-16 in Washington, D.C. Learn how to set goals for state and regional transportation planning and funding, to create safe streets for all users, and to build support for public transit. (Conference information) NLIHC Annual Housing Policy Conference -- April 11-14 in Washington, DC. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan will address the National Low Income Housing Coalition Conference and Lobby Day. (Conference information) Regional Forums Seek to Preserve Affordable Rental Housing. The National Housing Conference and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation will present three 2010 “Partners in Innovation” regional forums:
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Adams County Planning and Development Director, Westminster, CO: Salary: $110,000-$120,000. Closing date: March 5. (Full job listing) Legislative and Policy Associate, National Council of State Housing Agencies, Washington, DC. (Full job listing) Senior Legislative and Policy Tax Associate, National Council of State Housing Agencies, Washington, DC. (Full job listing) Program Associate, Coalition on Human Needs, Washington, DC. Deadline for applications is Friday, February 26. Apply only by submitting a resume and other information to apply@chn.org. (Full job listing) Post a Job Opening. NACEDA is pleased to post job openings for NACEDA members and partners. Please send the job title, organization, location, salary range and closing date as well as a link to an online job posting to info@naceda.org. |
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NACEDA Policy Update seeks your state/local news. Please send to news@naceda.org. Our thanks to Housing Assistance Council, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, NLIHC, CD Digest, Associated Press, National Council on State Housing Agencies, The Washington Post and Opportunity Finance Network. Copyright © 2010 by NACEDA. All rights reserved. Any republication must be credited to NACEDA. |
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